Method and machine for assembling upholstery



mez-191932. B, M, STANNARD 1,864,477

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY Filed sept. 27, 192s s sheets-sheet 1 C3 l C4 C HG BRUEE M. STANNARU INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

gulle 2l, 1932. B M STANNARD 1,864,477

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY Filed sept. 27, 1928 s Sheets-sheet 2 O l# B /l t il! k oC) I EEP.-

BRUCE M. TANNARU INVENTOR.

y BYOQW ATTORNEY.

june 2l, 1932. B M. STANNARD 1,864,477

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY Filed sept. 27, 1928 5 sheets-sheet s \&\ c? EN g g Hf BRUCE M STANNARU BY /I- IG ATTORNEY.

Patented `lune 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUCE M. STANNARD, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BREW'ER-TITCH- ENER CORPORATION, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, vA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING UPHOLSTERY Application led September 27, 1928. Serial No. 308,820.

My invention generically relates to a novel machine method for assembling and securing an upholstery pad upon certain furniture parts or the like having need for a trimmed cushioned covering attachment of this character. The method herein contemplated is more particularly applicable for upholstering metal furniture such for instance as chair seats or back frame members provided with a backing plate as circumscribed by a suitable groove means disposed in adjacency to the plan contour given the upholstered fabric pad. The fabric marginal region is herein neatly and firmly secured in place in stretched relation through the medium of an endless binding means adapted to be embedded in said groove.

The present assembly method is in part characterized by the use of a single binding ring which is not only madeto retain the cover fabric after heilig forced into the panel groove, but the same ring is utilized to initially stretch and snugly tension the center region of the pad covering while the ring is being embedded. Simultaneous With this single step, the underlying cushioning medium may be squeezed toward' the backing platerof the panel, while upon recovery, the released medium tends to augment or supplement the aforesaid initial fabric tension.

Said process is preferably performed by the use of a power driven press equipt with an abutment upon which my grooved frame member together with its unattached upholstery pad, may initially be seated; this press is further provided with a reciprocative ram provided with gripping means adapted to releasably retainsaid binding means and forcibly convey the latter into cooperative assembled relation with said frame upholstery. With these outstanding features as a basis. a series of relevant steps are set forth herein designed to bring about my im-l proved method for upholstering the aforesaid frame members.

The present improvements more particularly center in the use of an endless metal hoop means adapted to secure the border of a fabric cover in a single rain stroke or operation. The band is thereby forcibly moved into frictional engagement with a suitable pad understructure member, which in turn serves to tightly stretch the upholstery cover and spanningly bind the cover border in place. My ring is preferably brought down evenly around all portions of the fabric border so as to simultaneously impose a substantial stretching tension diametrically across the center region of the fabric in all directions radiating therefrom; such mode of assembly not' only produces'the maximum of fabric stretch for a given effective frictional drag movement on part of-said endless band, but also makes for a smooth unwrinkled upholstery cover installation that is snugly drawn toward all portions of the underlying cushioning medium in a manner that obviates the development of cover slackness after being subjected to prolonged hard usage.

By virtue of said power driven press, I am enabled to exert the necessary' force required to compel the binding hoop to overcome a really substantial stretching opposition. Accordingly, such a machine assembly method is readily capable of more tightly and uniformly stretching the fabric cover in a spanning relation across said ring than is attainable by conventional hand methods where such a band is generally progressively forced in place in piecemeal fashion. The use of my machine allows of applying an upholstery pad to either a one-piece furniture panel provided with a suitable band receiving means or to panels of the sectional type in which an insel'table pad is separately upholstered and then mounted into a circumscribing framework.

An object is to provide for a novel machine of the kind indicated that will upon a productive scale, facilitate the rapid and economical securemcnt of said cushioned upholstery pads to furniture elements. Embodied herein are also further structural features designed to accomplish the foregoing and related purposes, all of which will be more explicit-ly pointed out hereinafter.

Reference is had to the annexed three sheets of drawings which are illustrative of certain specific embodiments of my invention,

like characters of reference indicate like parts, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of an opened folding chair product having a sheet-metal seat and' valso a back member vsuch as may readily be upholstered by my improved assembly method.

Figs. 2 and 3 respectively represent side and top views of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a profile view of a sectional style of seat panel as taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3, while Fig. 5 shows an insertable panel which may be separately upholstered and thereupon mounted into a recessed portion of the seat frame section depicted by Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmental enlarged cross-sectional view of an assembled unitary seat end' portion similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but one that is modified and adapted to be unholstered without need of the aforesaid insertable panel.

Fig. 7 illustrates a front elevational view of a suitable press by means of which said seat frame may be machine assembled while Fig. 8 represents a cross section of said press as taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the press die block as taken in their respective separated positions along the line 9--9 of Fig. 7 preparatory to sealing the upholstery elements in place upon a seated chair frame, and Fig. 10 shows said die blocks bron ht together with my unitary upholstere ,frame interposed therebetween and subjected to ram pressure.

Fig. 11 represents a modified fragmental end view similar to that disclosed in Fig. 10 except that the insertable upholstered panel section is hereinterposed between said die blocks instead of the whole of the aforesaid unitary frame.

Referring first to a suitable product (see Figs. 1 to 6) upon which my machine is designed to operate, this may comprise a reversably folding chair equipt with a composite sheet-metal seat or back member to which cushioned upholstery pads may be applied. A chair of this kind has been more fully described in my Patent No. 1.774.190, and for present purposes, this single illustrative application will sufficel to make clear that the instant disclosure is more largely concerned with an assembly machine serving to equip furniture or like members with an upholstered pad. I

The folding chair herein shown as an eX- ample, is provided with a p air of rung connected front legs such as A., also a similar` pair of rear legs such as '-B, respectively pivoted at B1 intermediate their ends to one of the front legs in the conventional manner. The upper extremities of said front legs may respectively extend beyond the complementary end of the rear legs across which exten- B5 sions may be swivelly carried the back member D; the free u per ends of said rear legs may be made to prvotally mount the forward portion of the seat as designated in its entirety by C, and this seat may be given a cross-sectional profile and face contour substantially similar to that used for said back. The adjacent edges of said seat and back are shown as linked together at D1 but this feature is non-essential since the present invention is primarily directed to a process providing for a neat and rapid securement of cushioned upholstery pads upon either the back or seat member per se.

From Fig. 6, it will be observed that the chair seat when made from a single piece of sheet-metal, may be stamped out and formed up to provide a unitary frame having an annular body contacting face C1 with the margin thereof circumscribed by a dependin iiange C2, and that into said face there is urther impressed an endless groove means C3 as defined between the inner and outer groove side-walls C4 and C5 whose depth is terminated by the bottom wall or ledge C6. The length of the rabbet-like innermost wall C4 is preferably made somewhat shorter than its mate and the uppermost edge bent around into an endless centering bead C7, which in turn may be spanned by an integral flat crown or panel bac ing plate element C8 that is preferably kept slightly depressed relatively to the level of the circumscribing face C1, as shown. The particular plan contour or configuration given to said groove C3 is immaterial for present purposes; as applied to my sheet-metal frame, its shape may if desired be made unsymmetric'al in the fashion shown in Fig. 3.

The upholstered cushioned pad means E as attached to a metal chair seat or back frame, may comprise an extensible endless binding ring El, preferably fashioned from relativelyl thin bent-up strap meta-l stock having e strip ends interlocked to form a closed loop shape that conforms to and may forcibly `be embedded within the contour given the groove C3 by means of my assembl machine. Said cushioning means may urther comprise a sheet of flexible but relatively non-stretchable fabric such as tapestry cloth, leather, leatheroid or the like suitable upholstery material designated as E2. Underneath the assembled fabric and disposed on top of the panel backing plate C8, there may be provided a. suitable cushioning material here comprising a relatively thin layer of corrugated paper board or the like sheet filler medium E3; superimposed thereon is shown a relatively thick layer of wadding E4, preferably comprising felt or similar soft fibrous cushioning material that is readily compressible.

When used, the filler medium E3 and the cushioning material E4 may each first be cut out of sheet stock to an approximate size and Vequipt shape somewhat smalle-r than the confi uration defined by the inner groove wall 4 in the manner cross-sectionally indicated by Fig. 9, where the component upholstery elements are shown partially assembled in centered relation u on the depressed panel plate C8 prior to tllfeir securement to the seat frame. The inside size of the endless bind ing ring El is preferably iven a snu fit dimension with respect to t e embrace inner groove wall or rabbet C4, such that when lthe rin is firmly pressed down into the groove 3 with the fabric margin interposed therebetween, the latter will finally assume the embedded relation represented by Figs. 6 and 10. By exerting a flattening pressure u on the underlying cushioning material wlhile forcing the ring down into such fully assembled (liv drawn and stretched over the sheet wading E4, which in turn imparts to the edges of this cushioning medium, a somewhat tapered cross-sectional form that gives a neat rounded appearance to the finished upholstery as a whole.

As shown, the embedded ring E1 is preferabl given a strip width dimension that will fie approximately equal to the effective groove depth so that -its ex osed upturned edge ma fall substantially ush with or below the eaded perimeter of the upholstered panel plate. It will be obvious that the described ring and groove securement is intended to be such that it will frictionally maintain the fabric inv proper stretched relation over the frame region lyinginwardly of said circumscribing ring.

Referring 'now to the modified sectional position, the fabric becomes snug- -or built-up seat fra-me as detailed in Figs. 4

and 5, this comprises an equivalent groove means designated as 03'; one side wall thereof namely the outer groove wall C5', is here carried in an annular sheet-metal frame part substantially similar in function and purpose to that previously described except that the inwardly extending bottom wall or ledge C6 has been pierced out. Upon this overhanging ledge, rests a separate and insertable cushion panel of the type shown in Fig. 5, in which the rabbet element C4 may be with a plurality of panel fastenings C9 of the prong type adapted to project through registering s ots formed in the bottom wall C6 and to be crimped over as indicated in Fig. 4, although said inserted panel may likewise be secured into the circumscribing frame socket by other suitable fastening means such as staples, rivets'or the like.

The upholstery pad for said insertable panel may be separately assembled by forcing the bmding ring in place as represented in Figs. 5 and 11, whereupon it may be bodily set upon the inturned frame ledge C6 and clinched in place as described. It will howtransverse face of said guide.

of said G frame carries a transversely disi ever be obvious that the structural principle underlying either mode of cushioned upholsteiy is essentially identical, and that my metho of pad attachment is applicable to any furniture elements adapted to provide for a suitable groove formation. In said sectionally formed seat panel, its depressed crown plate again serves to center the wadding while the upholstery process is being completed; after the fabric has been firmly stretched in place by the application of my c amping ring El, the superfiuous fabric margins E2 may be trimmed off Hush with said ring.

By the use of either of these alternative instrumentalities, a metal seat or back frame members may first be japan finished in any desired color, whereupon a harmonized shade of upholstery fabric may be applied thereto, all of which results in producing a pleasing and attractive furniture product. The nonmetalliccushioning pad as attached to any such metal furniture member, further removes the disagreeable cold seat feel to which the user of an all-metal chair seat or the like, might otherwise be subjected. The mode of initially stretching and securing the upholstery covering thereon is such as will during extended use, obviate loosening or sagging p on part of the fabric.

As will be understood, the aforesaid upholstery assembly may be applied by hand methods; however, in order to facilitate rapid production and also to reduce the cost hereof, I have perfected a novel machine that is especially designed for this work. As shown by. Figs. 7 and 8, such a machine may comprise a suitable upright press preferably of the conventional G frame type designated in its entirety-as F. The frame proper may be provided with a vertical guide way F 1 in which is slidably mounted a traveling head or ram F2 adapted to overrun the lower The lower leg posed platen F3, said platen being kept suitably spaced with respect to the lowermost face of the guide to constitute the usual frame gap. superimposed upon the top face of said platen is a die block G adapted to receive and seat any particular frame part to which the aforesaid upholstery pad is to be applied. It is pointed out that said die block G serves essentially in the capacity of an abutment adapted to oppose the thrust which the ram action is intended to exert thereon, and as used in the claims, the term abutment is not intended to be specifically directed towardv the particular structural features shown in the drawings, but broadly includes any similar or equivalent element serve the indicated purposes.

Attached to the. lower or bottom face of the ram F2 is a transversely disposed retaining plate H which is given intermittent that might reciprocative movement. 'lo this end, m

ress is equipt withl al suitable crank sha t 4 providing for'an eccentric or -throw F5 as mounted between frame bearings such Aas F6. The overhanging drive en of said shaft may be equipt with 'a loose drive wheel F7 that cooperates with the conventional jaw clutch F8 of the punch or shear type.

These devices `impart but a single stroke to the ram when thrown into operative connection through the medium of the controlxlinkaves F9 provided with the treadle F9', and wlliereupon said eccentric reciprocatively actuates the ram by means of the connecting rod F10, as will readily be understood.

The structural die block details disclosed by Figs. 9 and 10, preferably comprise a rectangular hollowed base plate G1 adapted to be mounted upon the platen F3 and which lifting plate provides for a substantially fiat top wall G2. Movably resting thereon, is a centrally disposed ejector plate G3 having an edge contour similar in plan to the shape given to the crown plate element C8 of the hereinbefore described sheet-metal seat frame. Circumscribing said ejector plate edge and serving to vertically `guide the latter, is a crosssectionally angular seat block G4 of which one of its angular legs maybe secured to the top wall G2 while its other leg extends upward and is shaped to snugly engage underneath the marginal portion of said crown plate with the inner groove side wall C4 disposed in the straddled centered relation shown.

Means for positively elevating said ejector plate subsequent to i,completing the upholstery pad, is in part comprised in a lifting plate G5 that may be disposed interiorly of said base plate and hung in spaced relation 13eneath the wall G2 by means of a pluralityof depending guide posts G6. In connection therewith, said wall is further provided with a plurality of apertures respectively adapted to slidably mount lthe distance pieces G7 which serve to hold the lifting plate G5 in fixed spaced relation to the ejector plate G3 that normally rests solidly upon the top wall. Compression spring means G8 thrust said plate downwardly with respect to the under side of the wall G2, and an actuating lever G9 preferably fulcrnmed upon the base plate, may be used to lift said plate G5 in unison with the ejector member G3 against spring tension.

As regards the retaining plate H, this comprises an upper carrier block H1 adapted to be attached to the ram as indicated in Fig. 8; this plate may be provided with a plurality of counterbored or shouldered holes suoli as H2, each mountin therein a headed spacing pin H3 serving to angthe pressure pad H4. As shown in Fig. 9, said plate is held in s aoed lrelation from the bottom of the carner block by yieldable spring means such as H5. The contour of the pressure pad edge is shaped to conform with the shape and dimension given to the upstanding innermost wall face of the panel groove C3, the perimeter -of the pressure plate being such that it tends to sprin out and hold in suspension the sized binding ring El in correct alignment with said panel groove. Slidably circumscribing said pad edge is an annular guide block H6 which may be screw connected to move in unison with said carrier block. Said guide block is here provided with a depending test-like extension H6 adapted to engage the upstanding edge of the ring El and impart the ram thrust thereto, it being emphasized that the innermost perimeter of the annular guide block H6 is disposed to overlap the outermost perimeter of the clamping ring El. Furthermore, certain peripherial portions of said pressure plate H4 may be slotted in spaced relation to respectively inset therein, resilient clip means H7 adapted to frictionally engage or otherwise grip the ring El these clips releasably retain and convey said ring downwardly in unison with ram movement. When the `ram rests in its uppermost or normal position, the suspended relation of the pressure pad is preferablysuch that its lowermost face will lie substantially flush with or above the bottom edge of said suspended ring as in Fig. 9. The external embrace on part of said ring, properly pilots and'prevents lateral cocking while the ring is being withdrawn from the pad perimeter and forced into the panel groove` If now a grooved seat frame C of the kind described, be laid and centered upon the ejector plate G3, then the lower die block is ready to receive said filler E3 and padding E4 in the flat superimposed relation indicated by the last named figure. Durin this period, the ram will hold the carrier lock H1 in spaced relation with respect to the lower die block G, when the ring El may readily be snapped into suspended position. In addition, al relatively lar e sheet vof fabric E2 may also be interposed etween said suspended ring and the assembled padding,

whereu on the press is ready for performing an completing its upholstery operation in but a single stroke.

If the treadle F9 be now depressed, this will cause the clutched drive wheel to impart a single revolution to the crank shaft F4. On the down or working stroke of the ram, the carrier H1 will convey the suspended ring El into forced frictional engagement with the frame groove C3 and .secure the fabric in stretched relation over the cushioning medium in the described manner approximately indicated in Fig. 10. While the fabric is being secured, the pressure pad H4 will be forced toward the carrier block H1 against prevailing tension of the plural springs H5, which in turn imposes a relatively heavy compression pressure upon the upholstery members resting upon the press abutment, which members are thereby compactly thrust toward the backing plate C8 of the seat panel. It will further be observed that the depending block extension H6 is allowed to enter the upturned panel groove to imbed my binding ring below the panel face level, also that the annular O'uide block H6 together with the suspending binding ring E1 are purposely made to travel in unison toward said panel face during the working stroke of the ram F2.

During the up stroke of the ram, said pressure pad will again be allowed to resume its normal spaced position, whereupon the upholstered metal `frame may be removed from the lower die block. Owing to a certain clamping effect that is likelyT to be set up by the insertion of the ring E1, the upholstered frame structure ordinarily tends to bind somewhat upon the embraced portion of the seat block G4, and this at timesmakes it difficult to freely remove the frame therefrom. Any such difficulty is obviated in my machine by the use of the auxiliary ejector plate G3, and to the end that this may be automatically accomplished by power means, there is schematically shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a drive mechanism that interconnects the press crank shaft with the actuating lever G9. This drive may comprise a set of bevel gears F11 adapted to rotate the vertical shaft F12 in unison with the periodic ram movements, and which in turn similarly rotates a cross shaft F13 that is provided with a cam element F14. Cooperating therewith, is shown an intermediary lever F15 that .is linked to actuating lever G9 by the tie rod F16. The toe of said cam is preferably set so as to depress one end of said intermediary lever and lift the ejector plate during the up stroke of the ram. As will be apparent, this result may also be obtained in equivalent other ways, such for instance as more directly connecting the ram through the medium of a slidable cam means that similarly-cooperatesV with the lever G9, or if preferred, the lever F-15 may instead be provided with a foot treadle F15 as shown dotted in Fig. 8, which would eliminate the need for said shaft driven cam F14.

While Figs. 9 and l0 are intended to show how the described unitary or one-piece frame may be upholstered, Fig. 1l is added to show the manner in which a sectional panel as described in connection with Fig. 5, may also be separately upholstered by this same machine. Obviously, the identical method of fabric securement may be utilized either with or without the described cushioning medium E3 or the wadding E4.

Finally, it is emphasized that the fabric in the present disclosure need not extend out to the marginal edge of the seat or back panel to which it may be applied and turned thereunder but is purpose y kept spaced inwardly of the panel perimeter in or er to heighten the trim thereof.

My improved panel mountin alsoobviates soiling or wearin through o the inturned fabric margin an there is further produced -tear on part of the fabric while it is being stretched in place.

vDuring its descent, my ressure pad H4 contacts with and referaxlily squeezes together the interpose panel cushloning medum prior to forcing the binding ring E1 into the upturned panel groove C3. This disposition tends to iron out wrinkles and otherwise facilitates stretching the interposed fabric covering E2 even should the panel groove depth be kept relatively shallow. As a further feature, the pressure pad upon being raised from its operative position, allows the released cushioning medium to thrust the enclosing cover outwardly away from the underlying backing plate C8, which recovery in turn imparts a supplementary tension to the mounted fabric covering in addition to that previously set up by frictional drag on part of my inserted binding ring. While securing my ring into place, the untrimmed border portion of the cover fabric is allowed to unobstructedly extend outwardly beyond the binding ring in contiguous overlapping relation with the annular body contacting panel face C7. While the term rabbeted element appearing in the claims, is primarily directed to the innermost groove-wall C4 or its equivalent, this element need not neces sarily be made endless in order to engage with a cooperating binding member for cover securement purposes.

As will also be apparent, my machine is applicable to urposes other than those specifically set orth herein; as an instance, it may likewise be utilized to upholster furniture elements made of wood or other nonmetallic material affording a suitable groove means. It will further be understood that my ram or its equivalent may readily be manipulated by hand power, and that various other changes in the details of my machine may be resorted to, and that while the described species of upholstered frame product represents what is now considered a preferred embodiment, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to upholstering frames havin the precise form characteristics disclose herein, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, heretofore described and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Claims:

1. A machine for applying cushioned upholstery to panels or the like parts, said machine comprising an abutment provided with seating means adapted to support a panel having a crown plate associated with a circumscribing rabbet-'like element and which plate is adapted to mount a cushioning medium thereon together with a superimposed cover fabric, a reciprocative carried provided with a yieldable pressure pad, said carrier serving to convey therewith bindino' means adapt-ed to embrace said element, an means moving said carried toward said abutment to forcibly bring the binding means and said element into clamped engagement with a fabric border portion interposed therebetween, said pressure pad serving to compress the cushioning medium while bringing said binding means into the aforesaid engagement.

2. A machine for applying cushioned upholstery to panels or the like parts, said machine comprising an abutment provided with seating means adapted to support a member having a groove element and which member is adapted to mount a pliant cover thereon, a carrier serving to detachably convey binding means toward the abutment for the purpose of bringing said binding means into cooperative relation with respect to said element and secure the cover therebetween, and an ejector pad associated with the abutment and adapted to unseat said member subsequent to securing the cover in place.

3. An assembly press comprising an annular seat block for mounting thereona platelike part having a depending flange-like element. adapted to embrace the outermost perimeter of said annular seat block, a reciprocative carrier serving in one direction of its travel to convey binding means therewith and force said binding means into clamped relat-ion about said element, and an ejector pad disposed interiorly of the inner perimeter of said block `serving to unseat said part when the carrier travels in an opposite direction.

4. An assembly press equipt with an abutment face, an ejector plate normally resting on said face and adapted to be intermittently lifted away therefrom, said plate being disposed to allow of mounting an upholstered panel thereon in superimposed relation, a reoiprocative ram-like member serving ,in one direction of its stroke movement to simultaneously exert pressure upon said panel and said plate, drive means for reciprocating said ram, and actuating means serving to lift said plate oil' of the abutment face during the opposite stroke movement of said ram.

5. A machine for applying upholstery to a panel or the like part, said machine. comprising an abutment provided with seatin means adapted to support a panel having a aclng face serving to mount thereon an intermediary cushioning medium-and a su erimposed pliant cover, carrier means inclu ing an annular block means detachably sustaining binding means of the hoop) type and which hoop is to extend radially eyond the innermost perimeter of said block and in a thrustable relation to said block, ram means for moving said carrier and forcibly bringing the binding means into cooperative engagement with said panel for cover securement purposes, and pressure pad means arranged to impose a squeezing action upon the cushioning medium while the cover is being secured to said panel. j

6. A reciprocative machine for applying upholster to a chair panel or the like part in a sing e stroke, said machine comprising an abutment with seating means adapted to mount thereon a sheet-metal panel provided with a grooved backing plate and having a pliant cover means superimposed to overlappingly extend beyond the marginal portion of said plate, carrier means including axially projecting ide-edge means, the projection of said gui e-edge being adapted to embracingly receive a binding hoop therearound in enterable edgewise alignment with the plate groove, means releasably retaining said hoop around said edge, and ram means for moving said carrier and hoop in unison toward thev abutment to forcibl enter the leading) hoop edge and frictional y drag the cover order region into said groove, the trailing edge of the embedded hoop being kept exposed to view-and alloying the superfluous cover border lying therebeyond to be trimmed along the outermost perimeter of the exposed hoop edge after said hoop has been fully entered.

7. A machine for applying upholstery to a panel or the like, said machine comprising an abutment with seating means adapted to mount the panel latwise thereon and of which panel the upturned face is provided with an endless groove having a pliant cover superimposed thereover, a carrier block of which the innermost perimeter has a depending extension associated therewith disposed to terminate in an annular thrust face that is kept substantially parallel to said upturned panel face and which thrust face is enterable into the panel groove, axially projecting guide-edge means cooperating with the innermost marginal edge of said` thrust face, the projection of said guide-edge being adapted to embracingly receive a binding hoop therearound, means releasably retaining the hoop around said guide-edge, and reciprocative ram means serving during aninitial portion of a single stroke, to move said carrier and the retained hoop in unison toward said covered panel and during a latter portion of the same stroke, to force said hoop into the panel roove with the covering interposed thereetween.

8. The method of applying upholstery to a panel or the like and which method consists: firstly, in providing a frame including a cushion support means and which means is circumscribed by a sunken groove adapted to receive a fabric binding device; secondly, sup lyingv such frame with a cushioning me ium which projects above the level of the top of the groove; thirdly, placing a fabric cover over said medium to extend beyond the roove confines; fourthly, placing a registering binding device upon the fabric over said inding device to force it and the cover into said groove and at the same time applying pressure to the cushioning medium thereby lessening the stretch effect upon the fabric cover while forcing the binding device into the groove and permitting the intermediate part of the fabrlc cover to be brought more nearly into the plane of the top of the groove so that upon the binding device being forced fully into place and upon the release of pressure, the expansion of the cushioning medium tautens the fabric cover.

9. The method of ap lying upholstery to a panel or the like andpwhich method consists: firstly, in providing a frame including a cushion support means and which means is circumscribed by a sunken groove adapted to receive a fabric binding device; secondly, sup lying such frame with a cushioning me ium which projects above the level of the top of the groove; thirdly, placing a fabric cover over said medium to extend beyond the oove confines; fourthly, placing a registerlng binding device upon the fabric over said groove; tifthly, providing a press having a fixed surface to receive the frame and an opposed reciprocative member having a yieldable pressure pad adapted to engage the cushioning medium and a fixed annular surface adapted to register with the sunken frame groove; and then, placing the frame With its cushioning medium, covering and the binder above mentioned in said press and operating the press to force the binding means into position, thereby stretching the fabric cover.

In testimony whereof, I have herewith set my hand.

BRUCE M. STANNARD.

groove; and then, applying pressure to said 

